Best Pirce 😀 Victor Herbert – Naughty Marietta / Munsel / Drake DVD – Patrice Munsel, Gale Sherwood 👍

Naughty Marietta is one of Victor Herbert’s most enduring and beloved operettas boasting such favourite Herbert melodies as Ah Sweet Mystery of Life Italian Street Song I’m Falling in Love with Someone and Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!In 1935 MGM Studios chose Naughty Marietta as the premiere vehicle for Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy although much of the original storyline and music were drastically altered. Twenty years later Producer-Director Max Liebman brought Naughty Marietta to television in a production which was according to Variety prepared with painstaking care and devotion. Unlike the Hollywood approach Liebman’s production is quite faithful to the original work allowing the unforgettable Herbert score to speak (or sing) for itself.For his leads Liebman chose two reigning stars from the worlds of Opera and Broadway: Patrice Munsel and Alfred Drake. Ms. Munsel a Met Opera favourite in such roles as Lucia Juliet and Adele gives a spirited account of the saucy Marietta d’ Altena. Mr. Drake famous for creating the leading roles in Oklahoma! and Kismet made his television debut in this production lending his rich baritone voice to the role of Captain Warrington (appearing without his trademark beard).The strong supporting cast of singers and dancers – including the lovely Gale Sherwood – helps to make this a memorable evening.